Manchester shooting: Moss Side community 'devastated' by deaths

A community has been left "devastated" after two men were shot dead by a lone gunman at a lockdown party in Manchester, police said.

The victims, aged 21 and 36, were shot at the party in Moss Side attended by "hundreds", including a DJ, on Sunday.

Police confirmed residents had called them about the "unplanned event" but said officers did not break the party up over "public disorder" fears.

The men were shot in Caythorpe Street at about 01:00 BST.

Candles and flowers have been left at the scene in memory of the victims

The community has been left "devastated" by the shootings

Hundreds of people gathered at the scene and laid flowers and candles in memory of the victims, who have not been formally identified.

Peter Morris, who said he knew the younger victim, said he was a "nice lad" who was "outgoing" and "very thoughtful" and "well loved" in the community.

"He was harmless... he wouldn't hurt nobody," he said.

Peter Morris, who knew the 21-year-old victim, said he would be "sorely missed"

Mr Morris said he could not get his head around "how someone could inflict violence on him".

"It is a big, big shame as he is going to be sorely missed.

"I don't know how his friends are going to take this trauma in, as they were close like family," he added.

A murder investigation has been launched but no arrests have so far been made

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes of Greater Manchester Police said the men were killed in the "most brutal and horrifying way" and it was "our absolute top priority to find those responsible for this barbaric act".

He said: "We've also been working closely with the community who are quite understandably shocked and saddened by this news and know that this horror is not a reflection of the community and its values."

Supt Mark Dexter said the deaths were "terrible" and defended the decision not to break up the party.

He said: "The decision taken was that it would be unachievable to safely disperse that event given the nature of that event and the people that were present and the numbers.

"We have to take into account public disorder and the risk of confrontations with people."

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Police said an earlier event in a nearby park they linked to the Black Lives Matter movement was "peaceful and well organised" and was separate to the later "unplanned" lockdown party.

When asked about why the party was not stopped, mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said police officers had "difficult judgements" to make because "going in heavy handed carried risks".

Supt Mark Dexter defended the decision not to break up the lockdown party

There was a heavy police presence overnight after the shooting

Footage on social media of the Moss Side party showed crowds dancing to loud music in a courtyard.

One resident said: "When I first heard the first gunshot, my seven-year-old granddaughter said: 'Nana, nana, what's that?'

"I said it was a gunshot and then I heard a second one."

GMP had said it would take "serious action" to deter illegal gatherings after raves in Trafford and Oldham the previous weekend, when a 20-year-old man died of a suspected drug overdose and an 18-year-old woman was raped.

More than 6,000 people attended the events, where three men were stabbed.

Officers have been gathering evidence

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